Tribal Relations and Alaska DOT&PF

Federal Executive Order 13175

• Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments
  • To establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications,
  • To strengthen the United States government-to-government relationships with Indian tribes,
  • To reduce the imposition of un-funded mandates upon Indian tribes

National Historic Preservation Act Consultation (NHPA) with Tribal Governments

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has a government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes. This special relationship is affirmed in treaties, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Orders, and provides that FHWA and other Federal agencies consult with Tribes regarding policy and regulatory matters. Section 106 of the NHPA also requires that FHWA (this responsibility has not been delegated to the State of Alaska) consult with Tribes for undertakings that may affect properties considered to have traditional religious and cultural significance. www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/histpres/tribal.htm#consult

The Millennium Agreement

This agreement provides a framework for the establishment of lasting government-to-government relationships and an implementation procedure to assure that such relationships are constructive and meaningful and further enhance cooperation between the State government and Alaska Tribes. It acknowledges the mutual sovereignty of the State and Alaska’s federally recognized tribes.

State policy on tribal relations is also found in Administrative Order 186.

See: Millenium Agreement

Alaska DOT&PF Tribal Consultation Policy

This policy reinforces government-to-government relationships between the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (department) and the tribes in Alaska through consultation on significant matters of mutual concern.

This policy provides guidance to all employees of the department involved in any departmental action(s) that significantly or uniquely affect a tribe in Alaska, and pertaining to any tribal action that significantly or uniquely affects this department. It also reinforces the foundation for establishing and maintaining effective government-to-government communications between the department and the tribes in Alaska, and promotes consultation and coordination with these tribes, with the goal of ensuring that the department conducts consultation in a culturally sensitive manner.

Alaska DOT&PF Policy & Procedure 01.03.010

Alaska DOT&PF Post Award Conferences – An Initiative to Increase Rural Employment and Economic Opportunities on Airport and Highway Projects

Contracting with private construction companies through competitive bidding on DOT&PF projects is an effective means of ensuring high-quality construction, completed in a timely fashion at a fair cost, but frequently results in low utilization of the local workers in rural areas of Alaska. The construction industry in Alaska needs new entrants to meet ongoing and future needs for workers. Access to training opportunities directly related to construction projects in rural Alaska is essential to increase productivity and earning power of rural Alaskans and enable them to establish careers in the construction industry. The department and the contractor for an airport or highway project sponsor Post Award Conferences in rural communities to discuss opportunities to employ local residents and other economic opportunities for individuals and businesses related to a transportation project. gov.state.ak.us/admin-orders/199.html

The Alaska Tribal Technical Assistance Center (Alaska TTAC) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks/Interior-Aleutians Campus provides a variety of training programs on tribal transportation. The Alaska TTAP is a program funded by a cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to assist tribes in developing transportation resources, infrastructure, and development opportunities for Alaska Tribes. Alaska TTAP publishes a quarterly newsletter, the Alaska Tribal Transportation News. Alaska TTAP also provides technology transfer materials including films, books and pamphlets dealing with road and highway planning to interested tribes and parties, provides information services including training on intergovernmental transportation planning and conducts or arranges seminars and training sessions on topics of concern to American Indian tribal governments. www.uaf.edu/attap

Alaska TTAC training offerings can be found at www.uaf.edu/akttap/training-events/available-classes which will include information on the Annual Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium which is an annual Spring time gathering of tribal and transportation officials to discuss the various ways transportation networks can improve and have improved in Alaska.

The Annual Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium

This is an annual gathering of tribal and transportation officials to discuss the various ways transportation networks can improve and have improved in Alaska. The Alaska TTAP is the primary sponsor of this annual event and information about it may be found on their website.

FHWA Native American Program Coordination

The FHWA Native American Program Coordination staff provides guidance and technical assistance to federally recognized tribes on a government-to-government basis. The team strives to consult with Indian tribes before taking any actions that may significantly or uniquely affect them and fosters improved communication with tribal governments to respond effectively to tribal transportation concerns. www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/tribaltrans/

Links to Tribal Service Providers and Organizations